Baker & Taylor this week announced that it has expanded its collection management with new staff and a new facility in Crystal Lake, Ill. The new facility will complement B&T’s existing collection management department in Bridgewater, N.J., with the additional librarian staff in Crystal Lake coming from the former Book Wholesalers, Inc. (BWI), which Baker & Taylor partially acquired in September.
B&T officials say the expansion reflects “increased demand by libraries for outside expertise in collection development support,” such as building opening day collections, and ongoing title recommendations in all formats, from print books to e-books, audiobooks, and other media in conjunction with the B&T’s Axis 360 digital media platform. “The library market is changing,” said George Coe, president of Library & Education at Baker & Taylor. “By opening a new facility and hiring experienced librarians who understand the nuances of the collection development process, Baker & Taylor is strengthening our commitment to meet the evolving needs of our library customers.”
